Nonplayer Preview

Nonplayer #1, by Nate Simpson, Winner of the 2011 Russ Manning Award. Published by Image Comics.

Release date: April 6, 2011. 32 Pages, full color. $2.99

Advance praise for Nonplayer:

“This guy’s going to be a big deal... The whole thing is just a fucking stunning piece of illustration.”

--Warren Ellis

"If you don't buy this, you're stupid."

-- Geof Darrow"Very cool. Beautiful. May I have it?"

--Moebius, shown an advance copy at Angouleme

"Nonplayer's the best new comic I've seen in years."

-- Frank Quitely

"The moment I sat down and read a print out of the book, I was seriously knocked on my ass... This dude’s comics debut is ridiculous and puts many a veteran cartoonist to shame."

--Joe Keatinge, Robot 6 at CBR

"The art on this issue has impressed me more than almost any art I've seen in recent memory... The visuals are stunning on this book."

--Bob Bretall, the Comic Book Page podcast

Synopsis:

Mid-21st century America doesn't have much to offer Dana Stevens, but there's plenty for her to live for inside Warriors of Jarvath, the world's most popular full-immersion online game. In the real world, she's a tamale delivery girl who still lives with her mom, but inside the game she's an elite assassin. When she gets the drop on King Heremoth, a celebrity non-player character, she thinks she's finally got a shot at fame. But when she slays Queen Fendra, the King's reaction is disconcertingly realistic. Something's amiss in Jarvath, and the effects may reverberate well beyond the boundaries of the game.